Research in Focus

With global sales forecast to exceed US$214bn in 2015, bottled water will trail only carbonates in terms of total RSP value. Still bottled water alone ($155bn forecast for 2015) should eclipse the juice category ($153bn) thanks largely to an expected total value growth of $10.5bn in emerging and developing countries.

As diversity is what defines the non-Scotch whisky segment, it is subject to numerous and sometimes contrasting trends across the different whisk(e)y-producing countries. Nevertheless, while the category may represent a wide-ranging patchwork of national products, the trends in the key individual countries all appear to be pointing upwards, with a new IWSR/just-drinks report suggesting future growth is assured for the sector for the five-year period up to 2019.

If adaptability and versatility are key strengths in today's fast-moving drinks market, there is arguably one category which carries all before it. Indeed, a new just-drinks/The IWSR report describes pre-mixes as the "fast fashion" sector of the alcoholic drinks market.

Fresh geopolitical, macroeconomic and legislative headwinds are hitting emerging markets once hailed as the engine securing the global alcoholic drinks industry’s relative resilience. At the same time, western markets are battling lingering maturity while going through a transformational stage in terms of shifting drinking patterns, innovation initiatives and opportunities presented by the millennial generation coming of age. Euromonitor's senior alcoholic drinks analyst, Spiros Malandrakis, deconstructs the industry’s key regional narratives, highlighting key learning’s from across the globe.

A new report by Canadean analyses future trend scenarios for the FMCG sector, identifying the best opportunities in consumer markets over the next five years. Ronan Stafford, analyst at Canadean, explains why emerging economies will play such a huge role in the years to come.

In 2013, beer alternatives generated 13bn litres of volume sales and US$58bn in sales revenue, according to Euromonitor International. This is small when compared to the respective standard lager sizes of 182bn litres and US$583bn.

Consumption of English gin - excluding consumption in India and the Philippines, which both consist almost entirely of local economy brands - has been dominated by three core markets: the US, Spain and the UK.

Amidst the much-publicised decline of both regular and reduced sugar carbonates, The Coca-Cola Co and PepsiCo have confirmed plans to launch stevia-based cola carbonates (Coca Cola Life and Pepsi True) in the US.

The increasingly fast-paced rise and fall of trends is having a major impact on the global drinks market. Consumers have begun not only to expect, but also demand, the continued innovation of categories and products, according to the IWSR’s Global Trends Report 2014.

Following its successful emergence in the US beverage market as a result of high levels of investment from major companies such as Kraft and The Coca-Cola Co, the liquid water enhancer category has been introduced in the UK.

As the Scotch whisky industry en masse breathes a long - if discreet - sigh of relief that the Scottish National Party failed to carry the day in the country's independence referendum last month, it will be pondering how to return what is one of the country's key export earners swiftly back to growth.

New product developments are evolving and gaining prominence in an era of fierce competition for share of throat and wallet, against the backdrop of a rapidly depleting acquisition pool. Identifying the key themes driving innovation, realising their cross-category relevance and moving beyond trade taboos and stereotypes is essential for securing success as the ripple effects of the recession and fresh emerging-market volatility are transforming drinking habits and rituals.

Last year, the Middle East and Africa (MENA) accounted for just 8% of total juice volumes. Yet, this unremarkable position in the global juice category belies a very strong regional growth story, with high single-digit growth in the region’s most important national markets.